When last season ended, I was worried. I wondered whether Doc Rivers and Ray Allen would return, and I wondered if Danny Ainge would begin a rebuilding process. My fears disappeared when the Celtics stuck with their nucleus and gave winning another championship priority. Thank God.

But the Celtics are on borrowed time. Their championship run last year proved they can never be counted out, but the window won’t remain open forever. I figure they’ve got two high-quality years left in them, but you never know. Doc Rivers said as much to reporters after last night’s game. (ESPN Boston)

“We still don’t know when the expiration date is,” said Rivers. “It could be a year, it could be two years. It could be this year in the middle of it. We just don’t know that.”

That’s real talk. I’ve got high hopes for the Celtics this season, but we fans can’t take anything for granted. Enjoy the ride this year. It might be the last hurrah. Hell, worst-case scenario, it could be the hurrah after the last hurrah.